Elsewhere in Columbiana County

Mixed feelings on liquor options

November 7, 2012

Voters in Madison and St. Clair townships decided the fate of several liquor measures put forth by a trio of local businesses on Tuesday.

For the American Legion Post 736 on Y&O Road in Madison Township, voters approved a D3 permit, allowing sales of spiritous drinks for on-site consumption until 1 a.m., and a D6 permit, allowing sales of spiritous liquor on Sundays from 11 a.m. to midnight. Prior to this, the post was only permitted to serve low-volume beer and mixed drinks, as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

"We really needed that," said Steve Tatgenhorst, past commander of the post. He wished to thank all the voters in the Rock Camp Precinct of Madison Township who made the victory possible.

With a majority of the post's membership, including Tatgenhorst and post commander Sam Crane, living across the border in St. Clair Township, they were unable to vote on the measure themselves. Tatgenhorst said this left the post relying on the goodwill of Madison Township residents, who did not disappoint. "We try to do what we can for the community, and we were hoping they would do that for us," he said.

It was a sentiment echoed by Cyndi Hays, bartender at the post. "We're very excited and very thankful," she said. Hays hopes that the post will see enough increased business as a result of the passage that they will be able to make more donations to charitable organizations in the community.

In St. Clair Township, voters gave a split decision on liquor permits requested by the Marathon station on Y&O Road in Glenmoor, approving permits for carry-out sales of beer and wine and mixed beverages, but rejecting a bid for Sunday sales of the same. This was a second attempt for the station, which lost its first bid for liquor sales one year ago. It is unknown if the business will make a future attempt for the Sunday sales provision.

Voters in the St. Clair South Precinct rejected a second bid for liquor permits in requests for a C1 permit for beer sales and a C2 permit for wine and mixed drink sales at the Walmart Supercenter on Dresden Avenue in Calcutta, 39 to 61 percent on both measures. This past March, they went down to defeat 52 to 48 percent.